Art of mural decoration



1,640,781 Aug. 30, 1927. c. R. LAMB ART OF MURAL DECORATION Filed Nov. 5, 1924 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

CHARLES R. LAMB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ART. or MURAL DECORATION.

Application filed November My invention relates generally to the ecoration' of the interior wall surfaces of churches and other buildings and the ob ject of my improvements is to provide an ar tistic means of decoration which shall at the same time be durable and fire proof. In the method, heretofore employed in order to effect fireproof mural decoration it has'been necessary for the artist to applythedecorative medium as mosaic or stucco in situ', directly to the surface to be decorated. 1My invention, however, enables the-decorative scheme to be worked'out .inthe artists studio and thentransported to the place where it is to be applied and at the same time itpresents a surface which will not be affected by fire as are oil paintings, whether applied directly to the wall or to canvas] For the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiment of this invention I'have shown in the accompanying drawing a design applied to a canvas or other suitable backing and in this drawing Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 a' sectional view. In the accompanying drawing I have endeavored to illustrate my invention graphically and have shown in Figure 1, a plan view. picture executed in.

accordance with my invention, by applying portions of different colored cements upon a backing of canvas, or other similar 'material indicated at 1, the cementportions uniting to form an integral body, indicated at 2, made up of the several portions of different colored'cement's, to give the desired decorative results, and solidified into a unitary body. In Figure 2, I have shown a sectional view in which differentportions of the cementitio'us body, 2, of different colors. although integral with each other. are shaded to represent different colors, the cementitious body, 2, being'press-ed upon, and in this instance partially at least, through the interstices of the backing, 1. and being rep resented in a somewhat exaggerated manner at 2 where they have penetrated the backing, thus locking the cementitious body, 2, and the backing, 1, firmly together.

In carrying my invention into effect I mix dry colors each with a suitable cement, as Portland cement, which is wetted. as with water, to form separate plastic masses.

If desired the plastic masses of cement may be first formed and the dry colors then thoroughly mixed with each. In practice, however, I prefer to form batches of mixtures of the various dry colors employed 3, 1924. Serial no. 747,682.

with dry cement which was then wetted by the artist, so as to form plastic masses as required for use. The various colors thus prepared are then applied, so as to form thefidesired decorative design, to'a suitable fabric such. as canvas, or burlap, "and the plastic material is pressed into and through the fabric, so that the fibres of the fabric are covered by and 'imbedded in the plastic materials" It will be understood that the separate masses'of plastic cement compound, each given a different color, corresponds to an artistspallette, and that portions of the different coloredmasses are applied to the flexible fabric backing so as to produce in reality a mosaic, the marginal portions of the ad acent plastic masses, however, uniting while moist and plastic, so" as to leave no visible lines of demarkation, as in true mo saics. The'result, therefore, has all the appearanceof an oil painting with an extremely virile and characteristic texture, which is very pleasing'to the eye, and adapts this decoration particularly to mural purposes, where it is viewed from a considerable distance, the distance slightly softening the apparent texture of the surface without losing its character, as does an oil painting viewed from'a considerable distance. At the same, time, the structure of the decoration is that of a mosaic in effect, because the colored portions extend from the front clear throun'h to.the:back,"while it differs from a mosaic in that when it is dry, the several differently colored portions have united around their contiguous edges, so that the surface is in fact an ahsolutelyintegral thing, although itis supported by the canvas backing, which permits it to be transported without injury or breakage.

1 If desired such portion of the cement as has passed entirely through the fabric may be smoothed over so as to make a uniform coating over the back of the fabric.

The'surface of the cement may also, if desired be washed with a fire resisting solution, such as silicate of soda, to further in crease its fire-resisting properties. 1

The fabric thus prepared is then attached to the wall to be decorated in anysuitable manner-as by being adhesively secured there.

oil paintings. It can when dry-be rolled and transported'from place to place thus enabling the decorative work to be done in the artists studio and only requiringthewlabori of skilled workmen to attach it to the Wall to be decorated.

The artistic effect ofthe cement medium laid on to a fabric, such as canvas, in the manner described is also materially different from that produced by painting in oils, having more the effectof a mosaic, as Well as the durability, and flreresisting, qualities of that formof decoration and securingthe artistic result in the decoration which has heertofore been produced only by mosaic.

It is well known thatthe use ofoil paintings on canvas for mural decorations isattended with a considerable fire risk, andwithcertain other disadvantages. For example, in case of a fire-attacking such. oil paintings, they burn readily, and. contribute fuel ,to the. fire. Even if not actually burned, but mere ly exposed to flame or smoke, they are in most casespermanently injured, or utterly. ruined, as either highheat, a. flashof flame or smoke, is extremely-injurious, and in most cases destructive to -oil paintings. In:the use of my improvedmural decorations, they are absolutely fire. proof, and'if exposed to flame or smoke, or high temperature, they are not permanently. injurechand may be readily cleaned. My improvedfmural: decorations may also-be washed down with a hose, orotherwise treated'w-ithwater, without any injury-whatever, Whiclrma-l es-them very'desirable for use in places where sanitary conditions must be maintained, and. where at-the presenttime the use of oil painting's for decorative effects is prohibitive.

Having thus described. my invention. what I'- claim as new and" desire tosecure by. Letters Patent is 1. A -methodofmuraldecoration, which consists informing. separate plastic masses ofcement mixed with different dry colors, and applying portionsof such differently colored masses directly to diflerent-portionsof a flexible fabric, according to'anartistic decorativedesign, in such mannerthat the entire surface of the fabric will be covered andthe contiguous marginal portions of plastic masses of different colors --Will unitewhile in moist condition, to form an integral sheet.

2'. A; method of; mural decoration which: consists in forming; separate plastic masses; of-"cement mixed with difle-ront:;dry colors, and applying polrtionsrof such differently? colored masses directly f toadifi'e'rent portions-.

of'a flexible fabric, according to an artistic decorativedesign, in suchmannerthat the entiresurface of the fabric will be covered and the contiguous. marginal portions of colored masses directly to different portions ofa flexible fabric, according to an: artisticv decorative design in. such manner. that the entire surface. of the fabric. willbe covered and the contiguous marginal portions of plastic masses of different colorslwillunite while in moist condition,.to forman integral sheet, drying. the plasticv material, and adhesively securing the fabric to. the wall to be decorated.

4. A method of mural decoration, which. consists in forming separateplastic masses of cement mixed with different dry colors,. and applying portions. ofsuch differently: colored masses directly. to different. portions of a. flexible fabric, accordingto an artistic decorative design insuch manner that. the

entire surface of the fabricwilLbe covered and the contiguous marglnal portions of plastic masses of different colorswilLunit/e while in moist condition, to form .an integral sheet, andwashingthesurface of thecementitious material-witha fire resistingsolution to further increa-seits fire resistingproperr ties.

A method of mural decoration, which consists in: formingseparatet plastic masses of cement mixedwith different. dry colors, and applying-portions of; such differently colored masses directly to different. portions of EL'zfiBXlblG fabric, according; to an artistic decorative design,- in suchmanner. that. the entire surface: of. the fabric will be covered and the contiguousmarginal portions; of. plastic masses. of -different! colors will unite while in moistrcondition, to forman integral ice sheet, drying: the cementitiousi materialw and securing@. the fabric to thejfwall' to be; decorated with non-inflammablecementitious:

material.

In testimony whereof I afli-x: my.- signature this .31s-trday of Qetober 1924;.

(EHA'S. R2. LAMBi 

